Thanks everyone who has come along for the renovation ride this term. It has been an exciting and some days rocky road! But … plaster is going in and the veranda in the backyard is being built … and it is all good. We’re looking forward to a much improved space emerging!

We’re hopeful that by the time we return from the school holidays in 2+ weeks we’ll be functional again.

And be able to host an opening up party - look out for the details.

As you probably are aware, the renovations will enable us to run more activities at once, and we already have the U3A thinking of running another program here, a new guitar teacher keen to start lessons in term 2 and our Japanese Playgroup friends are returning (after thinking last year that they weren’t). If you run a small business and need a venue, or have a great idea for a program that you’d like to see in the local community- we’d really love to hear from you.

Just email info@alphington.org.au or call our office on 9499 7227.

Happy Easter everyone, we’ll be closing the office on Wednesday this week, and will officially restart programming from Monday 15 April, but in the meantime we will be in and out these holidays to keep an eye on the renovation and bed down the planning for next term.

Hi Leanne here. Last week I was at the NHVic conference in Creswick. This is an annual conference that is run by our peak body , Neighbourhood Houses Victoria, that enables the 400+ houses across Victoria to come together to learn and discuss and have a fun time!

I started the first day with this amazing sunrise over the RACV golf course … not too shabby hey?

There was a moving smoking ceremony to kick things off.

And lots of fabulous presenters including Leigh Sales … and lots of the houses gave presentations about interesting programs and NHVic gave sector updates on all the things that are currently impacting on houses. All of which I forgot to take photos of …. but then there was a 70s themed gala ball … see below!

I did a presentation this year on placemaking - 30 things that we have done at ACC to make our house have more of a community presence - including all the changes outside and inside, and then I talked about lots of the interactive community arts projects we have run. It was lovely to be able to share ideas with colleagues.

And to illustrate how participatory public art works we made a miniature gallery - portraits of the people who came to my presentation. It turned out great and i have sent it home with the NHVic staff. Hopefully they put it up in their offices as a memory of the conference.

Anyway, it was a super event! There are so many really committed and amazing and kind people in our sector and it is just fabulous to have these opportunities to connect up and learn and support each other.

So … our renovations are powering along. Eastern Property Services have been super lovely and efficient to work with.

This week the slab was poured for the new building in the backyard. And the frame for the building is being delivered on Monday. So this week should be exciting out there.

Inside we are busy sorting and organising … because on Thursday the asbestos will be removed from the ceiling in our office and in the foyers (and we have a LOT of stuff in our office and the foyers). There is also asbestos in the lino under the carpet tiles in our two main rooms that will come out.

So we need to clear everything out and … after the asbestos is removed, and until the ceilings are reinstated and the carpet tiles go back down, we’ll have our main rooms closed and we will be using the desk in room 3 for our office during the day (where we usually have podcasting/counselling/music lessons). To compensate for the closed rooms we will be reorganising the community shed space - so it can be used for a wider variety of programming.

Kalimna and I are in the process now of contacting all our users that will be impacted by the works, to ensure they (you) have an alternative plan. If we haven’t spoken to you yet we’ll do it early this week … but if you are worried please feel free also to give us a call!

It’s all going to be fine … it is all a bit up in the air, but the focus is on keeping things running … and we don’t want anyone to feel concerned.

In this light, please note that our outside programming, including playgroups and our Friday community program should not be impacted by the ongoing works … we’ll use the kitchen by the community shed and the shed itself if we need indoor space … and we’ll have access to the toilet through room 3 … and it will be exciting and different and fun!

(Hopefully).

Sorry for the pause in our news last week … we were flat out getting organised here at ACC and I barely sat at my desk early in the week … and then I went to a conference on Thursday and Friday with all the other neighbourhood house managers from the north-east Melbourne region, which was great. But I wasn’t in the office.

And … sometimes when I haven’t got to the newsletter I do it on Sunday night … but … I went to the Northcote Rise festival on High Street and … see the photo below! … I got distracted.

What a great event though! Nothing better than dancing to a Latin themed oversized jukebox in the middle of a closed off street with neighbourhood friends on a Sunday afternoon right?

We’re so lucky to have such great things on locally! Did you go too?

It was super lovely to welcome our colleague Kathy Vrettas from Yarra City Council to our community morning on Friday. And we were delighted that she brought along Cr Edward Crosslands who is the new Yarra Mayor.

The Yarra neighbourhood houses have such a great relationship with Council, and we are always thrilled when staff and councillors come along so we can show off all the exciting things we have been up to - and that deliver on our shared strategic objectives to create great services for our local community.

And … to mark the occasion … I FINALLY took a photo of some of our crafting friends who come along on Fridays with GenU. They have been coming for at least 6 months now, and we really look forward to them attending each week. Such nice people!

If you are interested in craft or gardening - with a good dose of socialising thrown in - our community mornings might be just right for you too! Come along from 10am. All welcome. Lunch is at 12pm.